Excerpted from "Leaflets" column

 

Consumerism is difficult to resist during these days when we are bombarded by commercials on television and slick sales flyers in newspapers. Children are convinced that they must have the latest and greatest toy or game. Parents go into debt to pile presents under the tree. Some of the gifts don't last as long as the credit card bills do.

Is all this overindulgence healthy? Actually quite the opposite is true. Having too much stuff can cause its own stress. The more things you have, the more time you must spend keeping track of or taking care of them. Sometimes you end up neglecting what you have simply because there are not enough hours in the day to tend to all your belongings. This can happen to children, as well as adults.

A familiar slogan is a sad commentary on our times: "He who dies with the most toys wins." Nothing could be further from what the Catholic Church teaches. Possessions mean nothing in eternity. In fact, when the rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life, Jesus told him: "Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Luke 18:22).

Don't let your Advent be one big shopping spree. Instead, cut back this year on the number of gifts you buy. Buy fewer presents, but give more of yourself. Your time would be better spent visiting your elderly aunt than rushing from store to store. Take a healthy snack or homemade bread to a homebound fellow parishioner as you personally deliver a Christmas card. It's likely you won't have to fight your way through crowds to get in.

 

God grant you abundant blessings always - Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M.

 

 

Excerpted from "Our Family Album"

Are You Called to Teach?

       Someone once said to me, "Everything has to be taught." Many parents can't afford a Catholic school education for their children. They rely on the parish's religious education programs. Many of you LEAVES readers have a strong faith and a solid Catholic education. You might also have the gift of teaching faithfully as the Catholic Church requires.

Is God calling you to this job of teaching the faith? Check with your parish to see if they need a teacher or an aid. You will be making a difference in this world and you will see the results of your efforts in heaven - J.O.

 

St. Joseph Helps In All Needs

Grateful thanksgiving to all the wonderful saints who have helped me so much: Ss. Teresa, Philomena and my dear St. Joseph. My faith in St. Joseph started when I needed to sell my house. He helped with that and with another home sale a year and a half later.

St. Joseph also helped with many personal needs: jobs for children, safety when traveling, a medical test and needed insurance. He found me a new husband and found one for a friend.

When something comes up, I turn to St. Joseph. I have a list of 14 prayer requests and all were answered. As head of the Holy Family, he is also a help to all families - D.S.

 

Excerpted from Father Engelmar Testimonies

     A Novena in honor of Fr. Engelmar Unzeitig, is now available. We will send a copy of the novena free to whoever requests it. Send your request with a stamped (postage for one copy, currently 39 cents), self-addressed envelope to us at:

 

 

 

I made a novena to Fr. Engelmar for a friend who was ill and in need of financial assistance for her three children and herself. Help came and she is now on her way to recovery, and the financial help came to her thanks to Fr. Engelmar, also St. Anthony - B.C.

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Thanks to Fr. Engelmar for favor granted - A.B.

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My donation is for two favors received from praying Fr. Engelmar's novena. One was to have someone come in to stay with my sister in California and also to find a place for her schizophrenic son whose health is so bad. Another was for my nephew to find a new house. Thank God - M/M W.W.

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My thanksgiving for prayers answered. My new daughter-in-law was having a difficult time two weeks before she was to marry my son. I could see how much he loved her and wanted her to get well and be her old self. Most guys would have walked away.

I prayed Fr. Engelmar's novena the day I received it. My son was visiting, feeling so bad and wondering what was to become of his wedding. His fiancee called to say that she loved him and did want to get married.

Reading the first day of the novena, I felt relief and was lifted by Fr. Engelmar, along with so many other special saints, including Ss. Therese, Jude, Ann, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Blessed Mother. The wedding was beautiful. Please keep praying for the success of their marriage - Mrs. D.R.

 

 

Christmas Day

 

 

 

 

The Miracle of Christmas

 Soft as rustling angel wings,
Christmas comes each year.
Hearts that once were cold as ice
Melt when Christ draws near.

          By Margaret Peterson

 

 

 

(Dictated to her by Our Lord)

        Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere and for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. Amen. (Recite this prayer many times throughout the day.)